Ninety percent of state money set aside for education would have to go to public schools instead of colleges and universities or building improvements under a bill proposed by Rep. Lou Shurtliff, D-Ogden.

Legislative Democrats unveiled that and a slew of other education initiatives — including reducing class size and embracing the governor's full-day kindergarten proposal — in a Wednesday press conference.

The state is looking at $1 billion in new and one-time money next fiscal year. And some of Democrats' proposals would carry multimillion-dollar price tags. But they deferred funding details to their upcoming budget proposal for the 2006 Legislative session, which also will include tax relief and a Rainy Day Fund investment, said House Minority Whip Brad King, D-Price.

"It's time we as elected officials . . . show respect for teachers and invest in a long-term plan . . . Our proposal today is a starting point," said House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake. "We invite our Republican colleagues to join us."

House and Senate Republican leaders in the House and Senate have yet to hammer out education proposals, said House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy. He noted several of the Democrats' ideas also appeared in Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s budget proposal, which will receive "serious consideration."

"When we've talked in our caucus, I know there's a lot of support for education," Curtis said, noting a desire to raise per-pupil spending and teacher pay.

Democrats' "Putting Utah Kids First" initiative would focus on student achievement. Among their proposals:

• Ninety percent of the Uniform School Fund — basically, all Utah income tax revenues — would have to go to kindergarten-through-12th-grade schools under Shurtliff's proposal.

Last year, public education received 86 percent of that fund, or $1.9 billion, according to a report citing the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst numbers. Colleges and universities received 9 percent, or $202.8 million. Three percent went to capital facilities and debt service, and 2 percent went to "other" (the State Tax Commission typically receives a small portion of the money, for instance).

Other years, the amount going to public schools ranged from 98 percent in FY03 to 81 percent in FY01, according to the report.

Reprioritizing state spending and requiring the 90 percent investment could pay for several other education initiatives, Democrats said.

Curtis was uncertain whether Republicans would support the proposal.

"I don't know if putting a specific percentage to public education versus higher . . . you're then maybe punishing higher education," he said.